Chapter 13

"Surround the base! Don't let that straw hat brat and this insolent stone-thrower escape!" Morgan commanded as he slowly advanced towards Eden Ragnell.

Eden was struggling, and it showed. His back throbbed with pain, limiting his ability to fight.

He was unarmed, facing Marines wielding swords and guns. The sheer number of attackers overwhelmed him, making it a grueling battle.

Eden dodged bullets and fought off attackers, but the pain and fatigue were wearing him down. He realized he couldn't keep this up forever.

"Damn it, they're overwhelming me!" Eden thought, ducking under a sword swing and delivering a powerful punch to a Marine's gut.

He knew he had to prioritize. "I need to take out those with guns first," Eden decided, changing his strategy. He weaved through the Marines, aiming for those with firearms.

Nami, hidden nearby, watched in horror as Eden fought. Her heart pounded with worry. She wanted to help but knew she couldn't risk exposing herself.

"Idiot! Who picks a fight with the Marines like this?" Nami muttered, biting her lip. She noticed Eden's back was bleeding more heavily now.

Despite the pain, Eden managed to reach the Marines with guns, disrupting their formation. He quickly incapacitated them, reducing the immediate threat.

"Untie me, I'll help you!" Zoro shouted from the pole where he was bound.

"I'd love to, but I'm a bit busy right now!" Eden yelled back, unable to break free from the surrounding Marines.

Coby, with a wounded shoulder, tried to help Zoro but couldn't muster enough strength. Seeing this, Eden came up with a plan.

He grabbed a fallen Marine's sword and threw it towards Zoro. Unfortunately, the sword missed its mark, merely grazing Zoro's arm and drawing blood.

"You idiot! What are you doing?" Zoro shouted, now bleeding from a fresh wound.

"Sorry!" Eden apologized, focusing on the remaining Marines. He wielded two swords, clashing them together to make a sharp sound.

"Is he any good with swords?" Zoro asked Coby, surprised.

"I don't know," Coby admitted, too weak to help further. The scene left the Marines hesitant, but Morgan's wrathful commands kept them attacking.

Morgan watched, his eyes darkening as his men fell. "Catch him! I'll tear him apart myself!" he bellowed, his voice echoing across the courtyard.

Eden dodged another attack, barely holding his ground. He knew he had to end this quickly. "I have to take out Morgan," he thought, steeling himself.

"You think you can challenge me? I am the great Captain Morgan!" Morgan declared, stepping forward with his massive axe arm.

"Let's see you prove it then, coward!" Eden taunted, hoping to draw Morgan into a one-on-one fight. His taunt worked; Morgan ordered his men to stand down.

With the Marines pulling back, Eden faced Morgan alone. He gripped his swords tightly, ready to fight despite his injuries. He dodged Morgan's initial swings, but his counterattacks seemed ineffective.

"Is that all you've got?" Zoro shouted, frustrated by Eden's clumsy swordsmanship.

Eden barely dodged a swing from Morgan's axe. "I'm not a swordsman, okay?" he snapped back, throwing the broken swords aside.

He jumped and landed a kick on Morgan's jaw, only to find it was made of steel. The pain shot up Eden's leg, but he pushed through.

Morgan retaliated, swinging his axe down. Eden dodged, flipping in the air and landing a solid kick to Morgan's nose. Blood spurted from Morgan's nose as he staggered back.

"Why isn't Luffy here yet? Has my presence changed things too much?" Eden wondered, his vision blurring from the pain and blood loss.

As he swayed on his feet, Eden saw the Marines hesitating, unsure of what to do without Morgan's direct orders. But he couldn't fight any longer; his body was giving out.